Flow-through type solenoid valves

ABSTRACT

An electrically operated flow-through solenoid valve designed for remote and/or control applications that has a reduced current &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;hold open&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position. The three possible operating states of my valve are: (1) closed to inhibit flow, (2) transient to open and open to allow flow, with maximum energizing current, (3) open to allow flow, with energizing current reduced from maximum.

Unite States atent 1 1 SangH 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 FLOW-THROUGH TYPE SULENUEDVALVES {76] Inventor: Donald W. Sangl, l 1 BlueJay Drive,

Brentwood,N.Y. 11717 [221 Filed: Aug. 311, 11970 211 Appl. No.: 68,234

{52] U.S. Cl. 251/139, 251/141 1511 Int. 1C1. 1. 1 1611 311/06 [58]Field of Search 251/139,.129, 141

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,614,945 10/1971Schlagmuller 251/141 X 3,168,242 2/1965 Diener 251/129 X 2,687,2778/1954 Bremer et a1. 251/139 2,876,753 3/1959 Chandler 1 251/139 X3,225,782 12/1965 Begley et al. 251/139 X Primary ExaminerArn0ldRosenthal [57] ABSTRACT An electrically operated flow-through solenoidvalve designed for remote and/or control applications that has a reducedcurrent hold open" position. The three possible operating states of myva1ve are: (1) closed to inhibit flow, (2) transient to open and open toallow flow, with maximum energizing current, (3) open to allow flow,with energizing current reduced from maximum,

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDBBT -2 3.762.683 ISHEEI 10F 2 FIGUREI INVENTOR.

FIGURE 2 BY [9 FLOW-THROUGH TYPE SOLENOID VALVES This invention relatesto valves and more particularly to a flow-through type solenoid valve ofunique design especially suited to remote and/or control applications.

Many valves have been patented in this class but my valve is differentfrom the old in that it has a reduced energizing current hold openposition, the advantages of which will become apparent from theillustrated application description contained herein.

A general object of my invention is to provide a valve that can beopened by a voltage level, can then be held open by a lesser voltagelevel and will close whenever this voltage is removed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve applicable to fuelcontrol in motor vehicle anti-theft devices. An authorized operatorwould apply an opening voltage, holding voltage would be supplied fromthe vehicle ignition. Whenever the ignition is switched off the valvewould close and could not be opened again except by authorizedoperators.

Another object of my invention is to provide a valve that can be openedby a voltage pulse, and depending on a holding voltage, will either beheld open or will be allowed to close.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a valve forinterfacing to electrical logic signals where a holding voltage logiclevel would only be effective if applied simultaneously with an openingvoltage level logic pulse.

The valve body can be fabricated from any nonconductive material, thisfeature makes possible cheap construction through utilization ofplastics and injection molding techniques. Construction details andadvantages of my valve will emerge more fully from the applicationdescription and accompanying drawings wherein a perferred form of theinvention is disclosed. It should be understood though, that thedescription and drawings are illustrative only and are not to be takenas limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claims.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through my valve.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 40-40 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of the circuitry involved withcontrolling my valve in one of its applications and illustrates theoperation of its unique reduced current hold open feature.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the fuel supply system of a typicalautomobile and a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitsfor an automobile antitheft system embodying my valve as an integralpart thereof.

The numeral 1 indicates the body of the valve, two sections labelled 1aand lb are fabricated seperately, internal valve components areinstalled and the sections 1a and 1b are then joined at line 1515. Thevalve body sections 1a and 1b are formed with concentric grooves 5adjacent to their respective mating surfaces. In the case of valve bodyconstruction of a member of the plastics family a band 9 of likematerial is situated as shown, with application of a suitable bondingmaterial to unite the two valve body sections la and lb into thecomposite valve body 1. Joining techniques, of course, will varyslightly with different construction materials.

Stator 3 and armature 2 are cylindrical and are made ofcorrosion-resistant ferrous metal material. Stator 3 is attached tomember 5, of the same material as valve body 1, by means of screw 13,through hole 47 in member 5 center, threaded into stator 3.

Member 5 fits in a circular indentation 14 in valve body section lla, itsupports stator 3, provides restraining force for compression spring 4and is constructed with several holes 19 through it so as not to impedeflow. Armature 2 is positioned to the center of valve chamber 18 bysplines 16 formed in valve body section 1b, a slidable relationshipexists. Compression spring 4 acts on armature 2 forcibly projecting samein a direction so as to create a fluid sealing relationship betweenconical end 7 of armature 2 and the similarly tappered shoulder 8 ofoutlet passage 11, an integral part of valve body section lb. Whenarmature 2 is thusly positioned flow through the valve is inhibited.

A solenoid coil 6 is wound circumferentially around the valve body 1.The ferrous stator 3 and armature 2 compromise a two element core forthe solenoid. When electrical current passes through the colenoid coil6, lines of flux pass through stator 3 and armature 2 and cause a forceto be exerted upon the armature 2 toward the solenoid coil 6 center andtoward the stator 3. This force is opposite in direction and greater inmagnitude than the force exerted by compression spring 4 and thereforecauses the armature 2 to shift position longitudinally to the valve body1 in a direction away from shoulder 8 of the outlet passage III. Thismotion of armature.2 causes conical end 7 to become disengaged fromshoulder 8. Motion continues until the end of the smaller radiusprojection 17 of armature 2 is in physical contact with stator 3. Atthis time the valve will allow flow to proceed. The flow path is; ininlet passage 10, through the holes 19 in member 5, through the valvechamber 18, through the space 12 between valve body section lb andarmature 2 maintained by splines 16, through the space between shoulder8 and conical end 7 of armature 2, and then through the outlet passagell.

When armature 2 and stator 3 are in physical contact they combine toform a continuous magnetic element. The important result of which isthat solenoid coil 6 current can be reduced significantly whilestmagnetic attraction between armature 2 and] stator 3 holds armature 2 incontact with stator 3 and thusly flow through the valve is allowed toproceed. Interruption of the current through solenoid coil 6 will ofcourse allow the flux field to collapse and compression spring 4 willforce armature 2 to shift to the position where a sealing relationshipbetween conical end 7 and shoulder 8 inhibits flow.

In the following illustrations, switching functions are simplified tomechanical switches, these functions could readily be performed by anynumber of mechanical, solid state, or logical controlling devices.

In FIG. 3; when switch 21 is closed a current path is established fromvoltage source 20, through switch 21, through solenoid coil 6, withreturn to voltage source 20. Electrically the voltage source 20 isconnected directly across solenoid coil 6 and produces a maximum currentflow and a flux field acting on armature 2 with sufficient force toovercome the force of compression spring 4 and cause the valve to open.Opening switch 21, or interrupting the current flow in any way willcause the flux field to collapse and hence cause the armature 2 torespond to the force of compression spring 4 and return to a flowinhibiting position.

If switch 22 is closed current will flow from the volt age source 20,through switch 22, through resistive element 23, through solenoid coil6, and return to the voltage source 20. Resistive element 23 is selectedso that its resistance plus the resistance of solenoid coil 6 limitscurrent flow to that which is less than the current required to producea flux field strong enough to overcome the force of compression spring4. If while switch 22 is closed switch 21 is also closed the currentpath is from voltage source 20 directly to solenoid coil 6 which wasshown above to cause the valve to open. If switch 21 is then opened theflux field strength will decrease to a level produced by current throughthe resistive element 23 and solenoid coil 6 which is sufficient tomaintain armature 2 in physical contact with stator 3 and thusly tomaintain the valve in an open configuration with a flux field strengththat was shown to be insufficient to cause the valve to open. Openingswitch 22 will, of course, disrupt the electrical current path, causethe flux field to decay, cause the magnetic attraction between armature2 and stator 3 to cease, and hence cause the valve to close.

The peculiar characteristics of my valve design make it particularlyapplicable to a motor vehicle anti-theft system and it will be describedin conjunction with such a system, altough the invention is to be in noway limited thereto. In FIG. 4; a three state solenoid valve isinstalled in a relatively inaccessible section of fuel line 35 runningfrom and transferring fuel between fuel tank 34 and fuel pump 36.Electrical connections are made so as to provide a conductive path fromignition terminal 37 of starter/ignition switch 33, through resistiveelement 23, through solenoid coil 6, and return to vehicle chassis 38.The vehicle starter/ignition switch 33 provides an electrical functionsimilar to switch 22 of FIG. 3. Further electrical connections are madeso as to provide a conductive path from the engine starter terminal 39on starter solenoid 30, through special switch 32, through solenoid coil6, to vehicle chassis 38. Special switch 32 is a normally open switchthat through some action available only to authorized operators can berendered closed. This special switch I 32 provides an electricalfunction similar to switch 21 of FIG. 3.

Voltage source 20, the vehicle battery, is available to thestarter/ignition switch 33 and to the starter solenoid 30. During thevehicle starting sequence starter/ignition switch 33 is positioned tostart, this makes voltage available to and hence current flow throughresistive element 23 and solenoid coil 6. At this time the vehiclestarter solenoid 30 has been energized and voltage has become availableat the starter motor terminal 39. If special switch 32 is closed whilevoltage is available at terminal 39, current flow will proceed at themaximum rate through solenoid coil 6. This current produces a flux fieldsufficient to shift armature 2 to a position of physical contact withstator 3 thereby allowing fuel to flow and assuming a position wherebywhen the vehicle engine has started and/or when special switch 32 isreleased armature 2 will be held in physical contact with stator 3 byforces generated by the reduced current through starter/ignition switch33, resistive element 23, and solenoid coil 6. Subsequently, when thestarter/ignition switch 33 is turned of current flow through solenoidcoil 6 is discontinued, the holding forces decay and hence the armature2 moves to its flow inhibiting position, with no overt actions requiredby the operation. At this time vehicle engine fuel flow is inhibited andtherefore the vehicle is protected from theft.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form,details, arrangement and proportions of the components without departingfrom the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A flow-through type solenoid valve including a valve body having aflow passage therethrough, a solenoid surrounding said body, a magneticarmature within said flow passage and including a valve head portion atone end and a flat imperforate surface at the opposite end, a valve seatin said flow passage, a magnetic stator element within said flow passagehaving a flat imperforate surface facing said armature surface, and aspring surrounding at least a portion of each of said armature andstator.

1. A flow-through type solenoid valve including a valve body having aflow passage therethrough, a solenoid surrounding said body, a magneticarmature within said flow passage and including a valve head portion atone end and a flaT imperforate surface at the opposite end, a valve seatin said flow passage, a magnetic stator element within said flow passagehaving a flat imperforate surface facing said armature surface, and aspring surrounding at least a portion of each of said armature andstator.